Sickle+Cell+Anemia+Carter+Stumpf

Carter Stumpf Period 8 Sickle Cell Anemia

Question #1 What is Sickle Cell Anemia?

Sickle cell anemia is a disease passed down through families in which red blood cells form an abnormal crescent shape. Red blood cells are normally shaped like discs. Sickle cell anemia is caused by an abnormal type of hemoglobin S. Hemoglobin is a protein inside red blood cells that carries oxygen. Also hemoglobin S distorts the shape of red blood cells, especially when exposed to low oxygen areas or levels. The distorted red blood cells are shaped like crescents or "sickles". These kind of red blood cells are very fragile and deliver less oxygen to the body's tissues. Also they can clog more easily in small blood vessels and break into pieces that irritate healthy blood flow. Sickle cell anemia is inheritied from both parents. If you inherit a hemoglobin S from one parent and a normal hemglobin, then you only have the sickle cell trait not sickle cell anemia disease. Question #2 What are the symptomsof Sickle Cell Anemia?

The symptoms for Sickle cell anemia usually dont occur untill after age four months. Almost all patients of Sickle cell anemia have crises or painful episodes which can last hours to days. These crises can effect the bones of the back, the long bones, and the chest. Patients either have one episode a year or multiple episodes each year. These crises can be severe enough that they can require a hospital stay each time they have one. Common symptoms among each patient are attacks of abdominal pain, bone pain, breathlessness, delayed growth and puberty, fatigue, fever, paleness, rapid heart rate, ulcers, and yellowing of the eyes and skin. Other symptoms also include chest pains, excessive thirst, poor eyes/ blindness, and strokes. Question #3 What is the treatment for Sickle Cell Anemia?

Patients with Sickle Cell Anemia need ongoing treatment even when they are not having any crises. They should take supplements of folic acid because folic acid make red blood cells turn over so easily. Folic acid is essential for creating new red blood cells. The purpose of treatment is to control and manage the symptoms and to limit the frequencey of crises. Painful episodes are treated with pain medicines and drinking alot of fluids Antibiotics and vaccines are used for bacterial infections. Blood transfusions are used to treat a sickle cell crisis. They may also be used daily to prevent strokes. There are multiple things you could do for Sickle Cell Anemia. By Carter Stumpf